Fundamentals
What Is Google My Business?
Google My Business is the old name for what is now called Google Business Profile: a free listing that appears on Google Search and Google Maps whenever someone searches your business name, or searches for what you sell nearby. In plain terms, it is your storefront on Google, one you control directly, with no ad spend required.
If you have ever seen a business appear with photos, a phone number, hours, and a star rating while searching Google or browsing Maps, that is its Google My Business (now Google Business Profile) listing. Having one, and keeping it in good shape, is the starting point of all local SEO.
Get a Free ReviewWhy It Matters
100% free
Creating and managing the profile costs nothing, unlike ads, which charge per click.
Appears directly on Google Maps
When someone searches "coffee shop near me" or "dental clinic Sukhumvit", a business with a complete, accurately placed profile has a real shot at appearing before any regular website result.
Customers decide based on this profile
Before visiting in person, most customers check Google first: reviews, photos, hours. A clean, complete profile directly shapes that decision.
The foundation of all local SEO
Whatever else gets done for local SEO, an incomplete or unpinned Google Business Profile caps how effective any of it can be.
What to Get Right on Your Profile
Pin the exact location
Even a small pin error confuses customers and can keep Google from showing your business for nearby searches.
Choose accurate categories
Primary and secondary categories determine exactly which searches your business becomes eligible to appear for.
Keep photos complete and current
A profile with fresh photos reads as active and trustworthy, and Google weighs recently updated profiles more favorably.
Keep asking for reviews
Review count and, more importantly, how recently new reviews arrive, directly affects Maps ranking, not just the average star rating.
Respond to every review
Good or bad, a response shows the business is actively managed, and builds confidence for the next customer reading it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google My Business different from Google Business Profile?
No, same service. Google renamed Google My Business to Google Business Profile in 2022. Many people still use the old name, but the underlying system and features are identical.
Does signing up cost anything?
No. Creating and verifying the profile is entirely free. What may cost money is hiring someone to optimize and manage it for better results.
I have a business but no profile yet, what do I do?
Sign up at business.google.com, fill in your business details, pin the location, and complete Google's verification process. See our full Google Maps pinning guide for the detailed steps.
I have a profile but it is not bringing customers, what next?
The most common causes are inaccurate categories, incomplete fields, or stalled review activity. All three are fixable with a systematic profile review.
Read Next
Want to Know What Your Profile Is Missing?
Request a free review of your Google Business Profile. We will tell you plainly what to fix first.
Get a Free Review